TOUR DE FRANCE 2025 STAGE 17 LIVE COMMENTARY | Bollène – Valence

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) won stage 17 of the 2025 Tour De France after a chaotic finish into Valence.

The Italian claimed his second stage win at the great race, following a massive crash in the final kilometre.

The crash halted all but the leading 11 riders, with Milan keeping clear of the chaos to win the sprint from the group.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirtes XRG) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease-A-Bike) were only held up by the crash, with all the other GC contenders ending on the same time as the leading pair.

Others, like Biniam Girmay (Intermarche Wanty), Cyril Barthe (Groupama FDJ) and Guillaume Boivin (Israel Premier-Tech) were not so fortunate, and hit the ground hard in a very wet final kilometre.

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Test for the sound is done and now we can begin. What a start time to have set for the stream. 20 2 and Inos blow this race apart and all of a sudden green jersey Jonathan Milan is behind. What is going on everybody? How is everybody doing? 93.1 kilometers of the stage to go on uh the stream that I’m watching. And the Pelaton are only 33 seconds behind because the race has been blown apart. The Inos Grenaders have maneuvered themselves to the front, started attacking, and then a more important move has gone, including the likes of Ivan Romeo. Quinn Simmons is following it um for lead trek or was following it should I say but this has quartered the gap to our leading four in the breakaway who are Vincenzo Albanz of EF Education Easy Post Quentin Pashier of Group FDJ Matio Burgido of Total Energy and Yonas Abrahamson already a stage winner at this tour of Uno X Mobility. It’s been a real snoozer of the first 60 kilometers, but it’s finally burst into life again thanks to Inos. I can’t believe I’m saying that as a certified Inos hater. No. Um I don’t mind them, but uh there are better teams on the uh in the Pelaton. Either way, Jonathan Milan was dropped on this category 4 climb, which I think shows you the uh the pressure that the green jersey is under at the moment. He did take maximum points, taking fifth place in the intermediate sprint from the pelaton, but he is in trouble. He’s recovering it at the moment, but right now he needs to do something very quickly to make sure he’s back in the pelaton going down the descent. He’s only got one teammate with him, Jonathan Milan. And Tim Mer is also behind. So, an update on the riders who have been dropped. Van Welder and Shackman are dropping back because um Tim Merier is behind and other riders that are off the back. Garrett Thomas, Sam Watson setting this one up for any Oscar. Dillier Bow House, Maya Hoffer and the group including the green jersey which includes plenty of sprinters. Ano demar Dylan of Jonathan Milan Alexi Renar of Coffidis other riders involved Pascal Akerman admittedly not going for the sprint on today’s stage instead that is Jake Stewart and Jonathan Milan in the green jersey is there and then two riders right at the back of the race Connor Swift of Inos Grenaders and Louis Barry of Inamari who was caught up in a crash just before the intermediate sprint at Rash San Basson which was won um incidentally by Yonis Abrahamson who sprinted all out for it. Burgido tried to go past the Uno X-Man but with 50 m to go saw his effort be futile. So conceded victory to Abrahamson. Albanese finished third, Pashe in fourth with Milan, Giamay and Tjis the only other three riders to get involved. Talipacha did not take a single point. So advantage Jonathan Milan at the intermediate sprint, but right now they’re in trouble. And by they I mean little Trek because their big sprinter is off the back. But that is the race situation as of now. Quick one to uh report you up to date with. There’s been one withdrawal before the stage started today. Tobias Har Johannes was in a little bit of trouble after yesterday’s stage but in the end it is another threebarreled name um threebarreled name Danny Van Pppel um who will leave the tour who left the tour before the start of today’s stage after the birth of his daughter um so a new addition to the Van Pppppel family so quite a legitimate reason for him to leave the race um to go and care for Stefan and uh and their daughter, their newborn daughter Bobby. So that is the update for the race in terms of abandons. Van Popo the only one and the only crash was a fall for Louis Barry, but as of now he is all right and trying to make his way back to the pelaton. a palaton which is 29 seconds behind this braidway and one minute clear of Jonathan Milan. The problem though now is you’re on a descent and then it’s a long flat section before the next category 4 climb. So despite Milan being dropped, yeah, despite uh Milan getting dropped, it’s probably a good sign for Little Track that no breakaway, quote unquote, has no chase group has formed off of the front of the pelaton because then the race would become uncontrollable. Right now, it’s still within range for Jonathan Milan, but it’s only T-Bone that’s attempting to solve the puzzle at the moment. [Music] But Milan in the green jersey right now is in a race against time to get to the front of the pelaton. And it’s a pelon that I think is being led by in Mare Wanty. So that must mean Binium Jamai is still in there despite Louis Barry being off the back. in Smaranty insisting on pacing and it’s probably a good idea for them because suddenly this stage is swinging into their hands and more and more teams will get involved with the two big sprinters off the back. Currently at the rear of the Pelaton for Vizmeal bike is Matteo Georgensson. Right at the back of the Pelaton going down this descent. Alongside him for Israel Premier Techch or just in front should I say is Chris Naz who might prove useful in the lead out for now Jake Stewart with Pascal Akaman being dropped but the decision amongst Israel Premier Tech’s staff is that Jake Stewart will be the sprinter no matter what. And thanks to a handy graphic from ASO, Binium Gay, Jordi Mayos, Kane Groves and Ano Dele have found themselves in group two. Meanwhile, Meranovan and Dear are behind in group three as Mateo Trenton attempts a breakaway from the Pelaton. Quinn Simmons is following, but he’s dragged a massive group with him. Maros Schmid in the wheel of the American national champion EF with riders up there as well. While vanard trying to get in the move, Tom Schwin’s there for Le. So Lle attempting to have two riders track this particular move into Marie also there. [Music] Uh thanks for that start. Um, not really sure how to respond to that, but um, love you too, I guess. How have you been? I have um, not been very active on Discord to be honest with you. So, how are you uh, you finding the race so far? I have kept up to date with your like um, is it VA manager team? Um although you haven’t updated that or given us an update on that for a while but the pelaton is very much stretched out. Teddyra sat about 30th wheel as more attacks go. Nelson Olivea this time with Tom Schwins following in the wheel trying to mark this Movy Star move. Picnic pastel also getting involved and Stroin’s directing the camera motorbike away from Olivea and the camera motorbike insists doing so and Olivea looks over his shoulder, assesses the damage, sees that there is none after Quinn Simmons pulls it back. But more and more riders getting involved and I think suddenly in Marie want to stop these breakaways from happening. Ro van St. Martins dikeke now following Julian Alfalipe who is attempting a move for TUDA pro cycling off the front but because Benny and Gay is in this group suddenly in Marie will be using up their teammates to not have a uh have a move. and off go Maui Star again. Movie Star and Inosaders. It’s not on a mountain. It’s on a flat stage, but it’s like watching the tour to France from 5 to 10 years ago again. Not even 5 years ago. It’s like watching the to France from 10 years ago again. But in the end, this move is being chased down by EF Education Easy Post Lead Trek monitoring moves constantly still. And that is the benefit of monitoring the moves because Quinn Simmons, a rider of his quality, if he gets up the road, will just have a free ride to the line and should take the win from the breakaway. 82.2 kilometers to go though. 33 seconds separate the pelaton and the breakaway as Alpasind Kerning head to the front. Putting a rider up there. The look behind told me that that was an attempt at an acceleration of some kind. Whether that’s a pace increase or a breakaway, I don’t know. getting frantic on the radio now between the other decoding team, [Music] but they’ve got Kaden Groves in this pelaton. So, a big chance for Groves if he’s available to sprint and Merier and Milan aren’t. But if I’m opposite, I’m trying to strike a deal with Interamar to put their resources to the front and pace together to try and hold off Milan. It’ll be a tough task for 80 kilometers, but you need as many teams as possible to get involved. Just over a minute now to the green jersey which is around 30 seconds behind the pelaton. And looking at the riders that are there, if DeLe is there, Lotto should be putting riders forward to pace, [Music] but as of now they are yet to do so. Red Bull Bora could do the same with Yordi Mayos in the group. But as of now they are not bothering which could mean the end for uh those sprinters if Milan and Merier can make it back to the group. Anyway, let’s wrap up how things went yesterday because it was a big day for Sudal Quickstep in particular. And uh the result was a huge one for them. I have just realized I haven’t put this in my uh in my stream for now. So, I’m just going to have to do some live adding of uh bits and pieces. But um it will take maximum sort of 10 secondsish to uh get it together. Either way, I don’t even know where I put it now. The uh the result for today or yesterday’s stage, should I say, finishing a top one two. Let’s make that smaller. Uh was Valentra taking the win. There we go. Bit of graphic design from me there. Um, Vela Perry Pantra took the win 4 seconds clear of Santiago Brago, but he beat Ben Healey in the sprint up the nasty final rise to the summit of Monontonu to have a French winner on the tour to France for another year. But home victor at the tour and it’s Parantra that delivers it. Ben Healey was second on the same time. Bago third. But would Paripantra have won it if it wasn’t for Elam von Wilder coming from the Wilderness to pace on the front, set Parantra up and deliver the victory for Sudawa. Quickstep. Massive ride from Elan Bonwilder on yesterday’s stage. Tali Podachcha claimed fifth place after everything that Yonas Vinidar threw at him. The DNE loses two seconds in the end to Podarcher. But had Podarcher on the ropes at points during the stage. Enrich Mass was seventh. The last rider within a minute of Perry Pantra with Alfalipe in eighth for Chuda at 1 minute 17. Rodlich and Lipovitz cross the line together. Rodlich waiting up for his teammate. Uh the Slovenian finishing ninth for Red Bull Borah. Lipovitz in 10th two seconds behind Rodlich who was at 151 on the day and that was how the stage ended up. So for Quickstep it was a humongous victory and vanwilder spoke after the stage saying that he spoke with Valentra at the bottom of Montu and asked how he was feeling. He said he didn’t feel his legs. I told him I could feel mine so I’d do the work for him. I came back in the last kilometer. There was some headwind. It was difficult for Valent because he was going for the stage win. The yellow jersey group was coming back. I went full gas and luckily he won. And for Valentine Parantra, he was very appreciative. It’s hard to say how I won that stage. We went to Mononton 2 with this breakaway and I was thinking maybe I could win today. I may be the best climber in this breakaway. I asked my teammates Pascal Cord and Ilam Van Wilder to make a good pace at the bottom. I tried so many times to drop Ben Healey, but he was really strong. At the end, I was just thinking, I’ll wait for the sprint and we’ll see if I can win. And then I won. These last few days, we went through a little storm, I guess. And now the sun shines again. I can say it’s really amazing for me and for the team to win a fourth stage in this tour. Tomorrow is a sprint, we hope. So maybe we can win again. And um it’s a big win as well for the staff members. Yoden F of Sudal Quickstep saying Sudal Quickstep Specialized and the other sponsors their interests are big. France is an important market for them and we are really happy to have the French guys in the team. They are successful in the team in the past but also now with Paul Manet and Valentine Parapantra who are two young French talents. They’ve both delivered already this year and it’s true they do have plenty of uh French talent in that team or a couple of talented French riders. The 24y old Parantra of course taking the victory up Monontto and a totally different style of rider in Paul Bier who won sprints at big races already this season as well. The group including the sprinters has made it back to the pelatons. So in the end the moves did not cause as much damage as they hoped to have caused. It’s even going so slow now that Louis Barry and Connor Swift who were right at the back have returned to the Pelaton which isn’t too far behind the four riders in the lead of the race as Quinn Simmons and Yasper Stoven have a chat at the back of the pelaton about how they’re feeling but Shudter Pro Cycling are ripping things apart on the front again. And it was Simmons and Stoven that brought Milan back in the main. Louis Barrier has now been dropped again off the rear of the pelaton fighting to stay in contact as TUDA cycling lift the tempo. is part of the convoy and is sitting on the Arca BMBB Hotel’s team cart. So, a little favor being done by his former team there and we’ll see if the Frenchman can make it back. Vento Abanzi on the front hands over to Matthew Bodo. Abrahamson, the big rangy figure of the Norwegian, much larger than the rest of his breakaway counterparts, will take over from Bodo with Quantum Pier, capable puncher, as is Vincenzo Alanazi. Albanz perhaps quicker in a flat sprint, but who can trust anyone in a flat sprint when Yonis Abrahamson’s there? Interesting move going off the front right now. Malia with a quick step teammate. I think it’s just a pace which has from Enor which has uh been slightly too quick for the pelaton and caught them out. In the end, it’s quite easily shut down, but Pastel Anorn with Tim Meria on his wheel is attempting something here. Yus Vinduar as well towards the front. Very odd composition of of riders at the head of the pelaton currently, but the time gap is gradually going out once more. Tom Schwin’s taking bottles from the little track car after doing a lot of work monitoring attacks with his teammate Quinn Simmons. But through comes Barry with his gray left hand side of his jersey, which was white at the start of the day, but because of his fall has gone a slightly darker shade. Also at the back, Siland Dillier there for Alinda Kernik. We’ll probably be after nourishment from the team cart after his efforts to try and keep the Mandan group away, which actually weren’t too heavy. But right now, it’s Pastellian Corn. that’s pressing on gets on the radio for Sudal Quickstep and Quinn Simmons is moving up on the left hand side. So Simmons going back to his monitoring duties of the breakaway. There was a point where he was going so quickly that Pascalan, the man at the front, told him to slow down to allow a larger gap between Pelaton and breakaway to avoid people bridging. But we’ve we’ve slightly seen this sort of emergence of I’ll call it polllet pacing where you go at a consistent tempo for the whole day and it means that the gap goes out very slowly but very gradually rather than the pelaton slamming on the brakes. Garcia Pier riding I think either stuck in gear or with a puncture. I think the latter. So will need assistance from the arcade BML’s team car. Mark Cavendish speaking to ITV Sport right now on the uh stream that I’m watching. Of course, the last rider to have won invalance back in 2021 in the green jersey for uh Sudal Quickstep or Darning Quickstep as they were then. 71 kilometers to go though. 48 seconds separate the Pelaton and the Breakaway. and expect that gap to rise unless any breakaway teams want a word in how the stage ends up going and it will be a good opportunity for Albanese Pashier Bodo and Abrahamson to increase their stay at the head of the race. But as of now it is once again calm throughout the race. Two hours into this stage then around 45 km an hour average speed so far. Commandish right now talking at the tour to France as a race of course an ambassador for the race but you know there is some some belief that it’s it’s given him the career that he’s had and without the tour to France Cavendish might be uh have a lot lower of a reputation because the tour to France is just a different level to any other race. Tim Wellins right now with the UAE team Emirates team car grabbing a water big sticky bottle there as Antony Turgis as well is looking for similar treatment from the Torell Energy car. total energy without their sprinter Emmelon Janeier of course who crashed early on the uh the third stage or sorry not early in the race on the third stage but late in the stage itself but as of now Total Energy are looking at a secondary sprinter they’ve got Bodo in the breakaway so it won’t be him at the end of the day. Tom Gashinar has struggled and was the last rider to cross the line at the end of yesterday’s stage at Mononton 2. Food poisoning was uh what he was struggling with in particular finishing 165th. Sudar Quickstep team radio at the moment says very strong guys very strong is also waiting for the moment. Alperson is pulling and I think very strong um said was said by Tim Mer. Matt Shackman is at the front right now followed by Quinn Simmons. Jonathan Beline chatting away, but Tim earlier on the wheel of Gar Thomas in a replay right now getting back into the Pelaton. He is more than safe at the moment. Tucked away. The pelaton under the duress of Matt Shakman’s pace. But is Anthony Tis up for sprinting for total energies? It won’t be Jat cuz he’s got GC ambitions. Deletra is a climber. Bodo’s in the break. Gashidar is struggling. So it’ll be Tis or Verse as of now. I don’t think Verse is as good of a sprinter as Antthony Tis is. Admittedly, it’s uh that neither of them are going to trouble the stage win, especially with Jonathan Milan and Tim Meria there. But both French teams or two French teams in this race have sprinter difficulties because Kofodis as well are facing their first sprint stage without Brian Kar. So murmurings of whether Alexi Renault or Damian Tuz will sprint for them. both of which have had a chance earlier at this tour thanks to Bon Kakar either not being there in the final or being involved in a crash earlier on in the stage. Renar was the latest pick for them. But I have a minor feeling that Damian might have a chance because he is in my ones to watch for today. Here were the ones from stage 15. We missed stage 16 stream because I was away doing life things. So on stage 15, of course, that stage was won by Tim Wellins from the breakaway. So I thought I’d pick three riders that were going to get into the early break before the stream got underway. And in the end, I got all three correct. Mate Maharaj was the closest to victory. You could argue being in the winning breakaway that included Tim Wellins, uh, Victor Compart, Gwen Simmons, etc., but he was dropped early on the last climb. So, Maharic did not have it. Meanwhile, Neilson Powas almost made it across. In the end, his counterpart Warren B did. Powless didn’t and was reeled in by the rest of the breakaway group. And from that rest of the breakaway group, Watt Vonard was partaking in the sprint won by Julon Alfalipe, but the poor Frenchman thought he’d won the stage. So I am very happy with that. I will take three for three on that ones to watch. Didn’t get the stage winner of course in Tim Wellins, but I don’t think many people would have on stage 15. And here’s who I’ve gone with to watch today. It’s going to be a sprint, especially with the way the pelaton have acted early in the race and the current situation as it is now. Jonathan Milan is not my first pick. Tim Meria is who I’ve got to win this stage for Sudar Quickstep. Keep an eye on Milan obviously for the green jersey and I am keeping my eye on Damian Tus because I reckon he’ll be sprinting for it’s going to be him or Alexi Renar but I have put all of my chips in Damian on Tuesday’s or all of my edge should I say in Damian on Tuesday’s basket and that’s who I think is going to be sprinting for coffee in place of the broken finger of Brio Kakarat that forced him out of the race after the time trial for some reason did that time trial with the broken finger but then decided it was it was not okay to continue but either way that is who I’ve got as my ones to watch for today and here’s the profile in a bit more detail it is the flattest of the final stages Just two category fours on the menu. The kiperuite which is where the gaps were trying to be forced. 3.7 km 6.6%. And the next climb is a lot easier on the gradient. 3.6 km. So slightly less in distance as well, but much lower gradient. 3.5% average up the tart. And then once you’re down that you have got around sort of 35 kilometers uh remaining in the day to make sure that your team is ready for Valance. It’s going to be a big day for the final couple of leadout riders because what I’ve got in my pre-stage notes of today’s stage is two cat four climbs of course well before the line and it being a flat stage but there is a corner late on. So your two best leadout guys have to be on form and in the case of Arbinda Kernink they won’t have their two of their Ming three for the sprints. It’s just Kaden Graves left now with Vanderpole and Philipsson out of the race. Initially, I had Philipsson before the tour for this stage, but with the way it’s going, I have gone for Tim Mer instead. So, that’s what I’m going for. And I think a sprint is uh the correct bet. I was wondering whether it would be a breakaway stage because the pelaton would have been tired after the monu climb and I was wondering whether some of the smaller teams the likes of Aana the likes of Coffee etc would throw riders in the breakaway and throw everything they’ve got at making a small group go to the win because they cannot compete with the two big sprinters at the race. So, I thought it was another chance for the breakaway, but seemingly it’s not going to be the case. So, I’m glad I stuck with my pick for the sprinters. Either way, we are well over 95 kilometers into the stage now, well over halfway, and we’ve got 62.4 remaining. 1 minute and six is the advantage for the breakaway. And it’s TBO dice for Le on the front. At the moment, Vanard just pulls out of the pace line and we’ll request something from the Visma Lisa bike team cart. But no, the uh rider up the the first was up the deer, I haven’t even mentioned that earlier today, was Yonis Abrahamson yet again. A rider who has been consistently involved in the intermediate competitions, picking up plenty of prize money for Reno X Mobility, but I think nothing will pick up more prize money than the stage win he got earlier in this race. But as of now, the situation remains stable. 1 minute and six between the Pelaton and the breakaway as Bernard has a mechanical trouble. Bit of trouble as well for the helicopter camera there. But no, four rider breakaway and four riders who are pretty good on different terrain necessarily to this. We’ll start off with Vincenzo Albanz of EF Education Easy Post who has been involved in a couple of sprints for the team in pink. finished in the top 10 of stage eight in particular just separating Alberto Dyn and Fredheim so is in the mix of the miscellaneous sprinters at this tour to France but hasn’t got a big result at this race did get a big result at the tow however his previous race beating Fabio Tristan to the win of stage two admittedly that was a much more hilly stage than this on into the couple of category 3es and a category 2 on that particular stage. So Alanaz prefers it where the road goes uphill and is short and steep in its climbs. Was in the top 10 as well of a Parinise sprint stage earlier this year and eighth on the pit newslad. So a good rider when it comes to classics and that is proven by some of his best results. Second in the Toris Almar team in 2024 only behind Benoir crossnafua overall and the 2023 copper bernoi. He was second there as well as the memorial pantani in 2021. But I think his tow stage win that he got this year is probably his biggest achievement in his career. and he will remember riding this tour and being involved in this breakway I’m sure but Alan formerly of Ara B&B hotels and then before that he was with Aolo Meta only spent one season with Arca after a couple of years at Aolo Meta getting some good results in the Italian classics and has moved himself up to EF Education Easy Post the definition of an allrounder is Vincenzo Alanazi. Wavart trying to get back to the pelaton at the moment. He’s distanced by about 22 seconds as of now. But Quinn Simmons having a long dire tribe on the radio with his team car. Meanwhile, TBase is stuffing your gel down his throat. But as of now, Leidle Trek and Sudal Quickstep going to the front is a statement of intent by both teams that will put off and ward off any other breakaway attacks because there’s lots of riders forming towards the front in red, yellow, and blue. and blue, white and red. Another rider in blue, white and red is in this breakaway. Quantum Perse who is driving things on the front right now. Hands over to Yonas Abrahamson. And a lot more riders have been opting for the uh nose tape across this tour. That seems to be something that’s growing in popularity. Has no scientific advantage from what I’ve read. Um but Matias has been using it. The media have seen him use it. Little Trek have then started picking it up. And for some reason every team now is uh is getting involved. The leading quartet continue though. And because it’s dangling at a minute, team car watch will be prevalent on this particular stage because they’ll be able to get everything that they want on command if their team car is up there. So, as long as the gap is over a minute, then they have access to their team car. and Abrahamson perhaps earning himself some brownie points being in this breakaway for the overall super competivity award. It’s going to be between him and Ben Healey. There’s no beating around the bush there. Both of which have walked away with a stage win from a breakaway. So, they’re level in that regard. But as of now, Abrahamson will just continue for as long as he possibly can at the front to rack up those kilometers in a breakaway. Tibonto on the front for Leel Trek was probably hoping for a lot more entering this tour to France was the Belgian than just being involved in Jonathan Milan’s sprint train. But things have not worked out at all for the 22year-old who has had good results in the classics in the early part of this season. Off the back of a successful cyclacross winter entered the GP Miguel Drain his first road race of the year and won that ahead of Alex Molina. then went to Atulia Bass Country and had multiple top 20 finishes on the tough stages before a 12th place in Amsterdonia and fifth in Leazge Baston Leage just being outsprinted by Simony Velasco that day ahead of three separate riders who came in solo first of course on Lees Baston Lege then second in the GP Tanon Argal in Switzerland land just behind Neilson Powas who managed to get a gap on T-Bones before the line. But the tour to France has not been fruitful for Nace, a Belgian youngster who has a lot ahead of him and I think is just struggling ever so slightly in his first ever Grand Tour. Albanise eight doing slightly less on the fronts than his three counterparts in the breakaway. But at the end of the day, I think it’s not going to matter because this group is not making it to the line. 55 kilometers to go though. And this stage is going by very nicely indeed, very quickly, which I’m glad about. And that’s another advert for the morning breakway. It makes these quote unquote more dull transition stages go by a little bit quicker. Round a 180 degree turn come the Pelaton led by Leel Trek who are just controlling this for Jonathan Milan at the moment in the green jersey. And the giant Cyclops has positioned himself at uh at this particular corner on today’s stage in and around the roots all the time. is that figure. Anyway, we move on to a little bit more discussion from yesterday, I think, because it’s clearly calmed down a bit after the flurry of attacks over the first climb of the day. So, let’s get discussing uh what happened on Mon 2. Starting with Ben Healey, who was the unlucky loser of yesterday’s stage, finishing second. Great result for him though. Moves himself up to ninth in the general classification. And the EF rider said this. I think I can play for GC and the stage win with such big time gaps. I wanted to follow the moves and not be attacking. And if a big group went, then I was always ready for that. Then I could play the card for both. I think one von two is definitely a climb of two halves. The steep bit is to shallow in art and then it was a lot more shallow with a headwind. That played a massive part in this final and unfortunately I wasn’t able to distance the other guys on the last half of this climb. Maybe I should have judged my effort a bit differently. I had super legs today. I didn’t have the chance to look at the GC results after the stage. So that will be a nice surprise when I open up the results later. I’m in pretty good shape this tour and the plan was to go up vonu as fast as possible. That’s what I did today and when the temperature is a bit colder, maybe I can have better legs. We started off pretty strong and kept up a good tempo. It was hard to find some coordination in the group and I said to the guys, let’s just catch mass first and then we can play. That’s what we did. On the top bit, it’s really flatter with a headwind. It was definitely harder to try and distance each other, but we played until the line and that was that. I went to the right in the final and I wanted to try and get the jump on Valentine Perry Pantra before that. That’s what I managed to do, but the last to 100 m is pretty long. He had the better legs in that final kick to beat me to the line. It’s a tricky one because with the headwind, the top section, and the flat, you never know. It’s such a long effort. I wanted to pace myself, but I should have pushed more on the steep bit and tried to make the difference there. I didn’t do that, and Valentine was able to beat me in the kick to the line. I think I need to pick the hard days. There are the days that suit me the best and I think there are still three or four of those stages this week. So, Healey is not ruling out going in the breakaway again in these final couple of stages. He is after those breakaway kilometers and perhaps to arise in the general classification. Whether stages or GC position is more important for him is his decision I suppose. But one rider who is very much interested in the general classification of his teammate admittedly was Adam Yates who said about yesterday’s stage, “It’s always a big mess. I think after a rest day, everyone’s a bit fresh. Everyone wants to try and win. So, it was hard to control at the beginning. We thought we had a good break. I think it was only three guys at one point, but then the pelaton had other ideas. Luckily, we had Marair and Pavl Civito up there, so it was all under control. I was still there with only six or seven guys. Vizma had Septus there. I don’t think we were really under pressure in that regard. When the leaders attack, it’s hard to follow, but the pace eased off. I was ready to work so it was under control. Talipacha looked good and feels good. You know how he is. He wants to win every stage be it a sprint, a mountain day or a TT. That’s his character. That’s his personality and that’s what we work towards. We worked hard all year to try and win. So it didn’t work out today but tomorrow is a sprint day. After that we’ve got two more big days in the mountains and we will certainly give it a try. So, that was Adam Yates’s thoughts. And there was a brief incident after the final climb where Yonas Vinegar got caught up in a crash uh with a photographer. Yonas said, “Some photographer ran out in front of me straight after the finish line. I don’t know what he was doing. I went down. I think people in the finish should use their eyes a bit more. I was feeling very good today, so I’m happy with the feeling and with the attacks I tried to do. Of course, I didn’t gain any time today, but I took a lot of motivation. We wanted to have somebody in the break, and the team did amazing. Everybody worked with everything they had, so it was a real commitment from everyone, and that was great. Thank you to my teammates. Terry Poder followed me every time I attacked and followed him, and I followed him when he attacked. So, I don’t know if I could see any weaknesses from him today. At least, how good I felt today gives me some motivation. I will keep trying. and we will get to later. His team will keep trying as well. But I’ve covered an ad break with all of that nonsense. So, back we go to the race. 1 minute 10 between the Pelaton and the head of the race right now. But Jonathan Milan at the way at the moment still leads the way in the green jersey. And questions are being asked about whether Todda can take it. I’ve always felt as if Podacha had it in his hands. But the more this race is going on, the more it’s swinging the way of the Italian on legal trek. The stage result will be massive though for Jonathan Milan because he has already picked up 11 points at the intermediate sprint. 50 points for the stage win would be exactly what the doctor ordered for Milan because I think that will pull him away enough from Teddy Podacha that um Podacha will take no interest in the green jersey. But we’ve got a crash in the Pelaton. Rodriguez is down. Somebody made a sign for uh Nils Plet there. But Court Nielson as well is is caught up in that incident. I hope to see it at some point. It must have happened in the mid pack because there’s been no camera shot of it right now, but it looks like a fairly large multi- rider pileup. And there we are. Julon Alfipe is on the deck who and I think he’s not interested in uh the hand offered out looked pretty furious at um the offering peace offering offered out by Tom Gashin who he himself has struggled at this tour. Carlos Rodriguez and Gar Thomas are involved as is uh the rider from group FDJ Paul Penway. So group FDJ sprinter is off the back right now and will latch on to Garrett Thomas and Carlos Rodriguez. Group FDJ will send a rider back. Mandus Court Nielson was also caught up in that incident, but Rodriguez with a ripped jersey clearly shows that the Pelaton were going at pace when the crash happened. A replay of it. Um, and that was that was a weird incident for Julian Alfipe. It looked like the arc of B&B tells rider in front was trying to take evasive action and Gashar didn’t get on the brakes in time which was why he was trying to apologize to Alfalipe who was not interested in his advances but plenty of nervousness in the Pelaton as proven. by that incident. Alfalipe on the rear wheel of Magnus Court who is getting back to the Pelaton using the Uno X team car as a wind buffer. But usually one crash creates panic in the bunch which causes another. And it’s this vicious cycle that sort of forms especially on a day like this which is thoroughly controllable and with a breakaway that should be brought back and a sprint incoming into Valos. Matis Luvel has a rear wheel issue so Israel Premier Techch are going to have to deal with that. So Loual struggling with a mechanical perhaps caused by that crash because we’ve seen Luvel towards the back at multiple occasions in the palaton across this tour to France. But Penoway and Carlos Rodriguez are back. Sam Watson will be tasked with taking the Spaniard further up the Pelaton getting involved towards the front away from all the incidents. The crash happened towards the back of the pelaton on a segment where nothing was really going on. But Lou struggling with his rear wheel. I think it’s a puncture. It’s been slightly dropped off the rear of the palison. But the two riders that are fully dropped are Julio Alipe and Magnus C. Alfipe again involved in a crash though. You’ve got a feel for him, but the signs are out for Alfipe who will shortly pass them. As of now, it’s the Breaway going past who have a minute and 15 advantage on the Pelaton and a minute and 40 on the group of Alfalipe, which isn’t a group, it’s a duo, but well, I suppose that counts. 47 kilometers remain in the day and it will soon start getting frantic in the Pelaton. We’ve got one more climb to traverse. It’s given a fourth category label and quite rightly so. 3.6 km 3.5% average gradient up to 406 m of altitude. the troll deati and beginning the climb is quantum pes the Frenchman two French riders in this braeight one Italian and one Norwegian from four different teams should alipe wants something from the tuda pro cycling team car which is trying to maneuver its way past Vizmissa bike who will be caught up soon behind Matislu’s stricken bike total energy are also having a bit of bike issues at the moment as Alfalip goes past his supporters group positioned at the bottom of this line taking a couple bottles from the TUDA pro cycling car and he will move on and try and get back to the Pelaton before it gets serious. Michael Woods towards the front for Israel Premier Tech. Not really sure why. His days will come later in the mountains, but as of now, Shakman leads the palaton on to the final climb of the day. Lou Barry is going to be happy that for once on this stage he’s missed the crash. He’s towards the rear of the pelaton though sat with Lucas Plap. Also towards the back is Michael Store. Again, another rider who won’t really be interested in the results today and instead we’ll be focused on what happens slightly later in this tour to France. Alfalite maneuvering his way through the convoy to get back to the pelaton. And a slightly longer effort than he would have hoped, but the former world champion is safe as Mike Woods continues to try and formulate a chase. Not really sure what the Canadians doing for Israel Premier Tech at the moment. Jake Stewart is going to be there, man. I wonder whether they’re increasing the tempo on the higher percentage sections to put a little bit of lactic acid in the legs of Milan and Meria. But right now, Israel Premier Techch are just sprinting or you know just helping out the sprinters. Woods peels off at the head of the pelaton and it is now Quinn Simmons who takes things up in the American National Champions jersey as Wanard is maneuvering his up the right hand side. Is he preparing for an attack over this ply? Indeed. So, while Venard makes a move to try and bridge across the 57 second gap to the breakaway and well, alarm bells ring for little Trek. Simmons looks behind, gets the nod from Jonathan Milan and starts to increase the tempo in the pelaton, but he is not catching Ward, who is attempting a bold move with 45 kilometers remaining. The breakaway have just over 1 and a half kilometers left of this false flat section. probably not even calling it a climb at this rate. But while Vanard is flying across the gap and as of now, Israel Premier Techch are trying to close this down. They have seen Vanard go up the road and they are worried. Van perhaps texting the legs for the mountain stages, but off goes the Belgian in search of a stage win. Van art such a prolific winner at the Tour to France. Can do it on any stage, taken nine wins across his Tour to France career, but his last one uh came in 2022, so it’s been winless for the last three years at the Great Race. Admittedly, 2023 was a DNF for him. but he went the whole of 2024 without winning either. And this is his big chance at hitting out for victory, it seems. Another opportunity at being in the breakaway later in this tour to France uh on stage, I believe 20 after La Pla, a rolly breakaway stage that might suit WART and so will actually the revised Paris stage. But that aren’t testing the legs early. At the moment, it looks like it’s not going to be a Shaspat because Albanz, Pash, Bodoro, and Abrahamson are only 24 seconds ahead of Vanart at the moment. Who is wanting to absolutely empty the tank by the time he reaches the top of the climb. We’ll see if there is any interest in taking the solitary point and more importantly for the braidway the prize money at the top of the climb because that will cause an increase in pace and the increase in pace is coming from Vincenzo Albanz. I think they are all worried that if they get Walvanar in their group, they have no chance at all of winning. But at the end of the day, Alan is seemingly just concerned with the solo chase. Intriguing maneuver though from Vanard. not set up by anybody at Vizma solely off his own ideas, but Vanart now is in what looks to be a Shaspatan because the rest of the braidway do not want him there and the Pelaton are chasing him down. Quinn Simmons is doing that at the moment. But Simmons might just see himself washed very shortly as Sudar Quickstep are maneuvering themselves over the fourth category climb for him and the battle will ensue for the descent won by Lew Quinn Simmons on the front at the moment. But Vanard right now is not making any more inroads on the breakaway which have decided to work together for the common goal of keeping the Belgium behind. Lewis Aski having a little bit of bike trouble and requiring some assistance from the group armor FDJ car as 55 seconds is the gap between the pelaton and the head of the race. Well, Bernard sits between the two groups at 22 seconds down with just over 41 kilometers remaining in the race. and the Palaton wanting to bring Venard back, but this looks forever more like it’s going to be a move that is unsuccessful from Vanart. Let’s just wrap up everything from yesterday then and then we can move on to what the rest of the race can hold. But first of all, I want to speak about Tobias Harland Johannes who had a real hard time going over the line. Torcha explained it after the stage for Uno X to Holland. Johannes feels much better after the stage. It was dramatic seeing him laying down after the finish line with some stomach pain, but luckily he feels better. He’ll go to the hospital for a checkup. It was our team doctor’s advice. That’s the best thing to do as a result. The most important thing is that Tobias is doing better and well. The most important thing, of course, is the health of the rider. If there’s issues, then we’ll listen to that, but we know later. It’s incredible. We’ve done a good tour of France as a team. We’ve been there on every stage. It’s also nice to be there on GC for the first time with a Norwegian rider for many, many years. So, that’s new for us, but that’s where we would like to be in the future as well. First, I would like to see Tobias get well and be 100% healthy. His GC placing sixth, seventh, eighth, or 10th, it doesn’t matter to me. It’s about the rider and the athlete. Now we’re eighth. It’s a great result at the moment. And Tobias Harland Johannison did start after exiting hospital had spent the night with his brother and as Harland Johannison at the hotel and did start today and hasn’t looked in trouble. I’ve not seen him towards the back on this stage and I didn’t see him get caught up in that crash. So looks like Tobias Haron Johannes is doing all right for now. Elsewhere, more team directors have had their say on the previous stage. One of which Maro Gianetti who said the pressure from Visbalis was expected for us. They advised everybody in the press conference that they were going to attack on this stage. So we expected it and they did very well. Yonas Vindigor is a real fighter and we know his quality today. He did an incredible stage with three or four strong attacks. Terry Podacha was good. He could follow all the attacks. At the end, he did take another two seconds. In terms of us, it was a very good day. And we maintain the gap in the GC. Vindar, he’s a champion. These guys are incredible. They are creating an incredible show for everybody in these past few years. We know when Yonas is in good shape like he is now, the difference between him and Tad is small. For Tad, he needs to suffer to stay in the wheel. That’s normal, but it’s good to see Yonas is in good shape and this promises a lot of fight in the next stages. So, that’s what Maro Jenetti had to say of UAE Emirates. But a director sportify that you could argue is overperforming with his GC leader at the moment is Matt Winston of team picnic pastel who said I think the team really brought Oscar on into a good position at the foot of Monu and looked after him all day. They kept him calm and kept him cool and hydrated on the climb. I think we can be really satisfied with what we saw from Oscar today. We didn’t expect a GC place when we came into the tour, so we’re just taking it day by day. Oscar is 22. We’ve had a great tour to France, whatever happens. And potentially, he could still have a bad day. We don’t know. So, we’re just going to keep taking it little by little. We hope we can defend what we’ve got, but we also know how good Primos Rodlich can be on the last week of a grand tour. He’s proven that in the past. Oscar only as fatigued as he should be going into week three of a grand tour. No one should be feeling fresh though as that’s how a grand tour goes and Oscar is certainly feeling that a little. It’s no more though than any other rider and he can keep recovering well. We focus on that as a team and making sure that he has the best recovery from the moment the stage finishes. We do that with good nutrition and looking after him in the correct way. Then he can keep fighting. Tomorrow potentially could be a sprint. It’s the last real chance for the sprinters. Obviously, there is Paris, but that’s going to be a different dynamic this year. So, I see it going to a bunch sprint tomorrow. And as of now, Matt Winston is absolutely correct. Wildart’s trying to have a say in whether it goes to a bunch sprint or a breakaway, but the Vizma Lisa bike rider is not benefiting as of now. His attack over the top of the final climb is proving futile and the gap is 40 seconds between him and the breakaway quartet up front. Van was involved in the early breakaway formation. There was a massive group that went off the front that I’m surprised didn’t kick on because it did not include Jonathan Milan or Tim Merier. It included a couple of teammates of both of them, but they could have put themselves in a position at least to win the stage. Whereas right now, it looks dead set for Tim Mer or Jonathan Milan to clean up in a sprint. Van art though 45 seconds now behind the breakaway. You have 36 kilometers remaining in this stage and the humidity is rising and the clouds are getting grayer as we approach Valance because it’s been raining in Valance at the start of the stage as we’re about to get some radio from TUDA Pro Cycling who said now it started raining at 10 kilometers to go. 10 kilometers to go. It started raining now. So that’s going to mean a nervous pelaton entering the final 10 kilometers. Water on the road, higher crash crash risk, should I say. That’s a tough one to uh get your tone around. But if you’re in the breakaway at the moment, you’re only focusing on your race and making sure you get into those frantic corners with a lead and away from the chaos. And at the moment, the chaos is being provided by Watvon and the palace, the breakaway, should I say, is doing their job in keeping clear of the chaos. over a speed bump. And now begins the slick wet to dry corners for the Palaton and more importantly the Brea who are traversing that just now. Soon it will be Wild Venard on his own who goes around these corners and Vanart resigns. looks behind. He had that 25 to 30 second time gap where I thought that he could make it across but Alan had the call through as did the rest of the breakaway riders that while Venard was going across and they reacted by increasing the pace at the front of the race. 34 km to go. Vanard has 10 seconds on the pelaton who will head to the 90 degree righthander very shortly. Vanard will head into that at the front of the pelaton as Quinn Simmons will just be behind Vanart and the Pelaton will bunch going around this quarter and we’ll be strung out on the exit. So this could be a chance for little Shrek to put the rest of the pelaton under pressure and any sprinters who are situated towards the rear of the pelaton now need to get their foot down. Tipa especially is towards the back of this group and trying to get across as Quinn Simmons looks to rip this race apart. It’s a very important right-hander and while Venat is looking around for his teammate Yonas Vinegarot who is stuck with Toracha but as of now lead could go and rip this race apart if they really want to. They’re in a position where they can. Good corner from Quinn Simmons. Not so good from the riders behind him. And it will get slower and slower with more and more riders going wide. Nobody hitting the deck yet, which is a positive sign. And it’s these wet to dry corners that are most difficult to traverse because road surface is difficult to tell. Of course, on an incredibly wet road, you know, to take extra caution going around the corner. And on an incredibly dry road, you know, you can rail it as fast as you possibly could. Whereas on a wet, dry situation, you might misjudge a corner as being dry and actually the drip is just not there and it washes you out and that’s your race over. So they’re so difficult to judge, but right now Leker judging it perfectly at the front of the pelaton at that important point. And now the pace goes out of the front of the palaton and the pelaton starts to widen rather than thin out approaching a roundabout. 1 minute and 4 seconds. Separates the Pelaton from the breakaway. Slightly gone to the advantage of the Pelaton through the twisty section, but might extend once again as Mate Maharaj wants some assistance from the Bay Victorious team car. 31.3 kilometers remain. 1 minute and six between the palaton and the leading four. And we’ve discussed Albanese, but we haven’t discussed any of the other three riders that are in this breakaway. And we might as well do that while they are still there. They are certainly going to be reeled in, but we should give them their flowers at least while they have the ability to accept them. Grunt Push has done the JRO this year, so is fresh into his second grand tour of the year. Best results at the gro of seventh place on stage five, the sprint stage to Meta, won by Mads Peterson. But it was a tricky finale which helps Quentyn Pash and Pache a rider who advanced to group armor FDJ in 2022 after spending his whole career below the world tour level moving from B&B hotels for the 2022 season and has stayed with group FDJ since and he has done very well for himself indeed second on two stages at the World Espña, one of which came in 2024 on stage 10, which is another hilly stage, lost out on that occasion to Bernard by 3 seconds. And then his second result at the VA Espan came one stage before he DNFed on stage 17 where he was outsprinted by Rioberto Udran. And that was up a climb of 9.3 kilometers at 4.9% average gradient but with a distinctive flat section in the middle. So he is a rider that thrives when the road goes uphill. And he is a very high quality puncher and medium mountain rider and a good domestique for group FDJ to have. But today he is in the breakaway. So that is what Pache brings to the table. Macho Beredo very similar. French loves a short steep climb. Spent a lot of his career at pro team level and is still there with total energy at the moment. Perhaps seeing a future though with the merger between total energy and Inos. So far this tour to France, his best result has been eighth place on the breakaway stage into to lose. Of course, stage 11 that day was won by Yoris Sabra Hamson, so he’s used to being in the breakaway with the Norwegian. But Major’s best result came at Parinise last year when he won a stage. Was it last year? Might have been the year before. Um, I’m wrecking my brain now. I’m going to Google this. Two seconds. Um, I’m sticking on this screen. I’m just going to I’m grabbing my phone as we speak and making sure that I am correct. He definitely won a stage at Pronise. I don’t remember what year he did win a stage at Pronius in 2022 outsprinting Mads Peterson and Wonart or holding them off should I say from the breakaway and I think that’s the best result of Macho Burgo’s career has had other good result in classic races second at the Britannia Classic behind Valenta second at the Tor Doo in 2022 too, but is a very offensive rider. Likes to enjoy being on the front foot and is in his fifth tour to France this year. Has done 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 before this. Questions about whether Lenny Martinez has mechanical or not. Seemingly not. But Yonas Abrahamson is a guy who might just ride the chain off if uh you’re given the opportunity. A complete truck on the flat stages and it proved to be beneficial for him on stage 11 going and winning the stage into to ahead of Maros Schmid in a two-man sprint and was the strongest from that breakaway. Total energy about to get on the radio as the weather gets much worse. They say, “Come on, Matio. Keep believing. The rain is an opportunity for us. An opportunity for Machu Burgo and a worry for Mate Maharic who almost cannoned into the back of the UAE Maets team car which pressed their brakes. But lotto and picnic pastel now are getting involved sending a couple of riders to the front of the pelaton. But no, Yonas Abrahamson stage winner at the tour to France and that instantly trumps any other result that he achieved in his whole career realistically went into the tour of France wanting to be a stage winner. Ended up being a stage winner and now really has nothing to lose for the rest of his tour. also won the Brussels Classic in 2024 on his own ahead of Benium GMI, Kaden Groves, and Pascal Akaman, holding them off by just four seconds in that particular race. And 2024 was a good year for him as well as the Brussels Cycling Classic win second in Dwasdland, another Belgian cobbly flat classic. In that case, he was behind Matteo Jordansson on that day and won the sprint for second in a fourman chase group, but does have a kick on him when necessary. just about beat out Maro Schmid in the sprint, but Yurus Abrahamson, the 29year-old, is an elite rider at what he does and is one of the most entertaining riders to watch because he is so active in breakaways and gets involved so often at the front end of the race. 25.6 kilometers to go and Sudal quickstep monitoring the front of the palaton. Now before this gets extremely uh hectic. The rain is made going to make this more and more hectic as is the road furniture that persistently comes up to the pelaton. Let’s have a brief look at um what people are predicting for the coming stages especially. We will start off with Kristoff Rudolph of Alperson Darnic who said it’s not easy for us. We lost our two leaders actually so it’s not easy to adapt. Luckily we had a good start to the tour but it’s complicated. We count on Yodus Recart to bring Kaden Groves in at the right moment in the best possible situation and position. We’ll try to have somebody who has the potential to win in the breakaway, even if it’s a small chance. A lot of teams are tired. There’s a chance that a breakaway with Wanard would go to the finish. The parkour is not hard today, but the bunch is tired. When they want to go for it, they don’t need a hill to go all out to the finish. So, for me, it’s possible that a breakaway could happen and go to the finish. Groves is ready, but there is only one potential winner. It will not be easy, but if it was me, I would not go with Tim Mer and Jonathan Milan to the finish. And I think that’s the case for most sprinters in the race at the moment. But it’s something that all of those will now have to deal with because it is looking more and more likely that it will be a bunch sprint on the road. Little Trek controlling things at the moment. Tanny Podacha going the wrong way around that roundabout and losing a couple of positions in the pelaton. But Quinn Simmons is increasing the tempo at the front of the pelaton as the rain starts to worsen. Andreas Lechnus clinging onto the back of the palaton that is led by Quinn Simmons who is going all out right now. Also towards the back, Michael Stora. We’ve seen him there before. Storin Lechnison will be wanting to be in the breakaways in the future stages. Capable climbers on their day. Mahoric is back in the pelaton right now. So crisis averted for the Slovenian. Almost ended up in the boots of the UAT Emirates car. But this is why Quinn Simmons was pacing because they are into a village and a couple of turns and road narrowings which can mean Little Trek can put the hammer down in the pelaton and string things out. Quinn Simmons is doing just that right now as Mahoric makes his return and connects with the rear of the pelon. on to Lechnis and he goes then, but the increase in tempo from Quinn Simmons has meant that the breakaways gap has pretty much halved in the last couple of kilometers. 34 seconds for our leading quartet and team cars will be being pulled now out and away from that four up front. 23 kilometers to go. 35 seconds between the pelaton and the breakaway. So, don’t trust that first cycling time gap. I’ll tell you that. Around 30 seconds at this point, but these guys will be wanting to stay clear of the pelon for as long as possible because chaos will start to ensue. The rain will cause nervousness and nervousness usually leads to crashes which is not what Vincedzu Abadi Pashe Burgo Abrahamson or anyone in particular wants to be involved in. More and more motorbikes are being pulled from the gap and that is a bad sign and a disheartening sign for the breakaway which will not give up and which will keep riding on for as long as they possibly can. Chuda Pro Cycling on the radio saying with one of their riders saying, “Have you got any news from the finish roundabouts in the last corner?” And the team car says, “I have news now. Ricardo is arriving. The last corner to the left is narrow. talk with Matteo because Matteo before the start looked at the video of the last kilometers. So that’s Matteo Trenton, their road captain who has clearly studied this finish. So Alberto Dese will be interested in following the wheel of his Italian counterpart in the team. It should be Trenton leading out Mayaher leading out Alberto Dyn if I’m guessing the sprint train formation unless Marco Haler and Trenton swap their roles. Linhard will be tasked with positioning that train you’d expect. But TUDA with all of their riders still in the race, they have done a good job at keeping illness away from their riders. But as of now, Luke Plap and Rul Van Stint Martins Dyke are heading off the rear of the Pelaton. That’s one teammate for Binium Jamai that he won’t have. And another one, Lou Barry. I don’t think he would have had Barry to use from throughout most of this stage because Barry was involved in a solo crash unrelated to the one that took down Alfip and Carlos Rodriguez. But 20 kilometers remain now for the breakaway group. Quentyn Pashier mouth wide open dropping in as much air that he possibly can. And it’s going to be much more difficult now riding through these wet conditions. It’s going to take more mental reserves to be used up keeping yourself on the bike and both bits of rubber on the tarmac. But Yonis Abrahamson looks in control of his efforts right now. Unlike Went Pashier, the exact opposite of the Frenchman, Abrahamson looks very much steady on the bike. Very enjoyable watch Yonas Abrahamson when he is in this kind of form. But the Palisanton have 20 kilometers remaining in the day. It is going to be a bunch sprint. You expect unless you want to Abrahamson pulls something off that almost nobody has ever done. The to France flies past a local runner who is just enjoying a little jog down the side of the road. Let no sununden store still towards the back of the pelaton which is still being strung out through these corners. This time it’s sud our quick step that lead the way. Lotto have sent center a rider forward as have red bull bor a hand screw by the looks of things. Yori Mayus trying to formulate his team in the middle of the palaton. But as of now it is Pascal Inorn that leads the way. Sephila sat second with Tomins in third in the train. Yasper Stoven in fourth and then the green jersey of Jonathan Milan sat fifth wheel. So Pulva being used because he’s a climber. So, it’s a chance for the Pelaton to or the breakway, should I say, to increase their gap, if only briefly, because I’m sure the Argentinian will be washed over by the other sprint riders that will be positioning their sprinter entering the final where there will be some key corners, the left hand turn of course that Tuda was talking about. So, it’s important to have your last three riders be in prime position through that left-hander. And if they are, then you’ve got a serious chance at the stage win. Pascal on the on the front for the moment for Sudal Quickstep with 17 kilometers remaining and off the back right now just after getting back on to the Pelaton. Maharic towards the back but Fred Wright is dangling as well. In corn though hands over again to Sepula and Vincenzo Abanz gets his head down and starts to focus on increasing the time gap if he can. Flick of the elbow hands over towin Pier who looks in a bit more discomfort. Both of the French riders look like they’re digging deeper into the reserves than Albanaz and Abrahamson. Abrahamson there at the front right now. [Music] We’ve got a couple more quotes to get through, but I won’t do that until after the stage finishes because they’re kind of more about the mountain stages and we’ll have a brief chat about the stages coming up and what we thought about today’s stage, which could get very entertaining towards the end, especially with the road surface as it is now. little bit greasy and a lot of teams looking to get their sprinters involved. Similar to Formula 1, Wet Roads is a little bit of a leveler for the teams with lesser sprinters to try and poke themselves into places where they really shouldn’t be and benefit from the general discomfort amongst all riders and the worry in the Pelisant. almost 46 km an hour on average as Albanz hands over to Pushet who gets out of the saddle and he looks very much like he’s struggling. Quentin Pash and it might be soon that Abrahamson and Alan 8 decide to leave their breakaway counterparts. Pache definitely looks like he’s suffering the worst of the four, but we’ve seen on Welter stages him out of the saddle, rocking, rolling, and looking like he was in trouble and in the end holding his effort. So perhaps this is typical Pier clinging onto the rear wheel of Vincenzo Abanazi Ronaldo as Yonis Abrahamson continues to raise the pace at the front of the race. The longer they stay out the front, the further away they are from the chaos that is the pelaton who now will be after the bunch sprint where the quickest riders will be towards the four. Those that are not at the front at the moment include a couple of leadout riders and a couple of mountain riders in particular. Tabace has done his job for little track. He is towards the back. Somebody who hasn’t done their job today but is perhaps saving the legs for future stages is Harold of Aana who is also right at the rear of the pelaton. Ivan Romeo had an attempt early on to get into the breakaway. Instead, his Maui star team will be, you’d think, going for Ivan Garcia Cortina in the sprint, but Romeo is towards the back of the palaton at the moment. So, seemingly won’t be getting involved in the lead out there would be a key rider if they did form a train with the likes of Barta, Olivera, and Romeo doing the lead out for Ivania Cina to sprint. But that doesn’t look like the case at the moment and it feels like Garcia Cina might be surfing the wheels to go for his own opportunity. Best result so far of 12th on stage one of the race for Garcia Cortina. So has not been around the sprints at all really the Spanish rider on the Spanish team of Moistar. But Abrahamson continues to push at the front of the race. Machio grits his teeth to stay on the wheels. Arno Dele tucked away quite nicely for Lotto at the moment. Banking on no crash with the ride wide roads. That might be beneficial. But Jonathan Milan is also nicely tucked in further towards the front though as is Teddy Paracha who moves up on the wheel of his UAE team Emirates XRG teammate. But the GC teams especially with this rain will be looking to position their leaders away from the chaos. So will in turn be involved in the chase of the breakaway almost accidentally. Albanzo though in his first tour to France is trying to get as arrow as he possibly can getting as little wind on him as possible and we’ll be relying on Abrahamson and perhaps Pash to get involved in a food delifuger if you will break away from the breakaway. Round the roundabout they go and Vincenzo Albanz leads the breakaway group through. A little bit of a gap forms between Albanz and Quentin Pier. The Italian rider does not look over his shoulder though and assess the damage. So just continues. More and more riders though are being spat out towards the rear having done their job at the front as Yonas Abrahamson increases the tempo very much with an attack followed at the moment by Machu Burgido who is trying hard to reel the Norwegian in out of the saddle and really struggling and starting to tie up is Machu Burgedo. So Alan now has the Frenchman to get across to. Meanwhile, Yonis Abrahamson is striking out on his own hopefully in his case. Alanz riding across to Burgido who is very much done and instead of of pushing past Albanz sits on, assesses the gap between himself and the pelaton realizes he’s dropped both Pashe and Burgdo and tries to pursue Abrahamson. If I’m Abrahamson, I’d try and wait up for Albanese because those two looked the best, but Pashe looked over his shoulder. Abrahamson threaded the needle between Pache and Albanazi. Burgidor had to go the long way all the way around Brenton Pier to get to the wheel. And I think Vincenzo Abanaz the glasses have gone off. Tried to stick them into his helmet once failed. Goes for it again and this time gets it as Burgidol and Pes have joined forces and will try to chase down the Uno Mobility man who is very much on the move. Away goes Abrahamson then on his own striking out at potential glory but certainly increasing his chances in the overall competivity classification which I think is what he’s going to be looking at from now on. Talipacha though sat fourth wheel. Visma Lisa bike and UAE Emirates coming towards the front dragging a couple of riders up there to help with the chase but more importantly keep Yonas Vineyard and Tip Podarcher out of any potential incidents that happen. Off the rear right now for Coffidus is Benjamin Toma as Israel Premier Techch are pushing on for Jake Stewart. Their sprinter who is taking over from Pascal Akaman. They’re giving the Brits a go today. We’ll see how that decision pans out. But in the battle between Jake Stewart and Pascal Akerman at the moment it’s all been for the 31y old German Akerman whose best result was fourth but only one other top 10 at this tour to France on stage three where he finished eighth into Dunkirk. His best result though fourth stage fourth on stage eight behind Kaden droves Wal Venard and Jonathan Milan reeled in now are Pes and Bodo Albanz will be next up and it’s Tim Wellins that has the Italian in his sights then after that it is Yonas Abrahamson the familiar figure of the Udox rider but Tim Wellins makes the catch now and 13 seconds is what the pelaton has to close on Yordis Abrahamson. They’ve got 8.3 kilometers to do it. So it doesn’t have to be immediate, but they want to do it as soon as possible if you’re the sprinters teams. Wellins though followed by Civikov then Podacha third in the UAE team Emirates train and the only rider in front of them is from Israel Premier Tech who again are going for Jake Stewart who hasn’t had the opportunity to sprint has been involved in a couple of breakaways but was brought in as their secondary sprinter similar results to Pascal Akan across the year but Akan has that higher ceiling from previous grand tours in the past when he raced for the likes of Boranskrit. But Abrahamson will just get his head down, have a specific wattage in mind, and just push that for as long as he possibly can. Joe Blackmore is the rider that’s trying to bring this one back for Israel Premier Tech. And Chris Nance is looking to bridge the gap to the Brit with a couple of riders on his wheel. Alex Lenenko, Dion Bavan there as well. [Music] Quentyn Pier takes the combativity prize as Enrich Mass also being distanced from the Pelaton. would be a troubling sign if he was in GC after that very good first week for the Spaniard, but could not continue that in the second week and was involved in the breakaway yesterday of course. Eventually reeled in by Peripantra and Healey who went and contested the stage win. But who will contest the stage win today? More and more riders being spat out of the rear. Yonas Vindodor trying to stay in contention in the pelaton. He’s sat on the wheel of Todd in the yellow jersey instead flicks to his teammate and right now at 6 kilometers to go you’re starting to see a change in command at the head of the pelaton. GC teams are handing over to the sprinters teams and lead and Alpaca Kernik were leading the way as well as of course Israel Premier Techch who’ve been towards the front for a lot of this running perhaps using the resources up a little bit too early but going all in clearly for Jake Stewart. JTO Alula sat right hand side though. Luke Durbridge, Ludomez gets and Dylan Vaden. Omar Rind is moving up as well for JTO Alula as Yonas Abrahamson arguably robbed of the competivity award based on this move. Heads off alone at the front and is continuing to hold off this pelaton. It’s only 7 seconds and he’s going to be caught. But entering the sprint zone, Abrahamson is alone with five kilometers remaining and eight seconds of an advantage on the Pelaton. So all of the GC riders will now be given the same time if there is a crash and they are in the Pelaton. And now it’s the time for the sprinters teams to burn through their riders. Israel Premier Tech might have done that a little bit too early with the chase of Yordis Abrahamson and the rest of his breakaway counterparts, but as of now, Shuda Pro cycling are taking over at the front of the Pelaton. Israel Premier Tech as well through the middle of the road. Group FDJ there too. Little bit of unsigned road furniture. Hopefully everybody got through that fine seemingly so as Abrahamson gets reeled in for good. And now with no breakaway riders up the road, it is purely for the sprinters. Now Alberto Dyn sat second wheel on Fabian Linhard right now. That is not my hopper. I can tell you that. But forward go cycling. Dese gets on the radio because his lead out rider has lost him. of Cindering sat towards the back. Tim Meria as well. We haven’t seen him at all in these last 10 or so kilometers, but he’s going to be focusing on the wheel of Bert van Lurburgger who is going to do the job for him. Coffidus also moving up in the yellow sleeves making sure that their sprinter of choice whether that be Rainar or Tus is positioned as well as he could possibly be. Abrahamson getting some plaudits from his teammates as Lotto tried to press on but it’s Bahrain victorious at the moment who are leading the battle of the the sprinters teams with 3 kilometers remaining. Camel Bradic pulls over and it’s a chance for Jacob Alula to regain control of things. Next roundabout comes up. Sudal quickstep have gone one side. Bahrain, Jacob and most of the others have gone the opposite way and Sudal Quickstep have lost out slightly because of it. Tim Mer sat quite far back in the palaton but he enjoys doing that. That’s the way he sprints. He likes to leave it incredibly late. We talk about the likes of Alpas and Darnink leaving their lead out late on in the day. Meria pretty much leaves it to the last possible moment and most of the time that works for him one of the big two in sprinting but with 2.3 kilometers to go Luca Mes is trying to line this one out in the pelaton Elar Rinders seemingly is still there for Dylan although I can’t see him now but Jonathan Milan as well is towards the back. His lead track team have expended so much in monitoring breakaways, bringing moves back that they’ve left nothing for Jonathan Milan. This has echoes of the Machu Vanderpole sprint stage where teams were running out of riders so quickly that nobody had any riders left. And one of the teams that profited was picnic pastel. They like these stages where everything is all over the road and chaos is ensuing. Of course, they’ve got Pavl Bitner and Tobias Lund Anderson to go for on today’s stage. Whichever one they are not going for will be the lead out man. But Picnic Poston still with a complete team and 1.3 kilometers to go. Milan gets moved up the pelaton. Tim Merier once again deciding to stick towards the back sat around 20th to 30th wheel and big crash in the group. It was bound to happen and just under the flam rouge. It’s a major incident and Tim Meria is caught behind it. That is the danger of sitting 20th to 30th wheel. Plenty of riders down. Couple from picnic pastel, a couple from Israel Premier Techch, but it’s Lotto and Brent Vanure that are out the front at the moment. Aana sat second wheel. They look to be going for Fedorov today, the Kazak National Champion, but it’s Brent Vanur that’s leading things out. 600 meters to go. Riders looking behind themselves and suddenly teams will have to change their options. Claymore Russo in there for Group FD. Does that mean that Paul Penway is up there? But as of now, it’s Aana that are dominating in the leadouts. Jordi Mayo sat second wheel and off goes the Estana rider. Mayu sat second. Milan third for the moments. Milan in third wheel launches now. Arno Delely on the wheel of Jonathan Milan. He can’t get out of the wheel at the moment. Almost runs over the back of Milan. May’s pushing hard. Milan on the right hand side and nobody can challenge Jonathan Milan who takes 50 sprint points and the stage win. The Italian wins the on stage 17 of the tour to France and it is a big victory for the green jersey. But chaos chaos happens. Yoda’s Vineyard with his glasses in his mouth. Checking if everybody’s okay. Oscar only doesn’t look fantastic. T Bonu joking around with Oliver Arson. Paracha looks okay. Felix G looks all right having a joke with Oliver Arson over the line. But again, everybody given the same time and it looked like a big crash amongst those that were towards the front. Meria stayed on the bike. It was only a couple of riders that went down, but everybody slamming on the brakes behind and Tim Meria misses out. Meria misses out again though. Jonathan Milan is your winner though and Binium Jerem one of the riders who was caught up in the crash is sat with a couple of inari riders. Yonas Rich do Barry there as well. So BMI’s down group FDJ rider on the deck as well. I wonder whether that’s Penoit because Clemon Russo was there or thereabouts towards the sprint. But once Milan launched, boxed Jordi Mayos in nicely and Ano Dele almost ran over the rear wheel of Jonathan Milan. Meus got back into the wheel of the Italian but could not get around and it was by half a wheel that Jonathan Milan took it but it’s a sprint where you had to stay away from the chaos. Jonathan Milan made his move at just the right time and held off Yordi Mos who takes second place. So, Milan, your stage winner on stage 17. And that concludes the stream for today then. So, that was stage 17. But what have we got coming up for tomorrow? I will be streaming for that as well. This was stage 17. Stage 18 slightly different only slightly there. stage ending on culdeal and three or category climbs to be taken by the palaton 171.5 km total and the kiland kadelin and k de la await the final climb in particular 26.4 4 km 6.5% average gradient. Cella Madlin almost 20 km as well. The CI Landon over 20 km at 5.1% but with changeable gradients throughout. They’re just showing a replay of the crash right now going under the Flam Rouge and it is a narrowing and a bump of shoulders between a rider from CoffeeS and a rider from Group Armor FDJ. A pink post guy tried to thread the needle and just general bumping and barging led to an incident occurring and the worst rider was the man from group armor of DJ who was positioned on the left. I think it was Bitner that was caught in a sandwich between one of the Cidius riders and Paul Penoway Benium Jeremiah with bad damage to his right side. Lots of rips in the Interar wanted jersey. We’ll see if many of the sprinters continue tomorrow with this stage in prospect, but I will update you on that when we get some information for tomorrow’s stage where I’ll be streaming as always. So, uh, be there or be square tomorrow. Anyway, Milan wins the stage ahead of Yos Tobias Linda Anderson in third. I will direct you guys to the results page. So, uh, you can update yourselves on the results. Arno Deise at fourth, David Balerini in fifth position with Dynth, and it wasn’t Penway that went down. So, it was another group armor FD Ryder perhaps. Um, then if it was the lead out guys that wasn’t Russo, then it might be Gregoire on the ground. But Diane in sixth, Penway seventh, Fedorov eighth, Russo ninth, Stoben in 10th, and I think it was Alexi Renard that kind of caused that incident with Bitner threading the needle. He ends up finishing in 16th place for Coffidus, but multiple riders missed out on the sprint in the end to Valance. And that will end the stream for today. So up tomorrow de la more entertaining stage and I will have that from around lunchtime. There will be a bit of preamble before the stage. But I think I’m going to do the whole stage in its entirety including the roll out. So make sure you’re there for it tomorrow where we will do this all over again. Anyway, I will go and get the word on the ground from today’s stage and uh I will see you tomorrow. Let me just check who’s streaming to see if I can raid anybody because I never do that and I’ve just had that idea now. Is anybody on the tour of France game that I can raid? Stero is doing his subathon. Um but you know he’s got enough viewers as it is. So yeah, I don’t uh don’t really know if there is anybody to raid. Don’t think so. So um yeah, I’ll leave it there. Have a great rest of your day. Enjoy yourselves and see you tomorrow for the Calalos.